2002 Mazda Protege

ON 10/31/09, WHILE MOVING THE '02 MAZDA PROTEGE ES FROM 2ND BAY TO 1ST BAY IN MY SHOP, AT THE 1ST BAY EVEN BRAKE PEDAL BEING APPLIED, THAT CAR RUSHED FORWARD TO THE SHOP WALL ; MY SHOP WALL AND CAR CRASHED. MY ADDRESS IS [XXX](CELL) INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MAZDA PROTEGE. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE RADIO STOPPED WORKING AND THEN SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE RADIO. THE CONTACT REMOVED THE FUSE TO DISENGAGE THE RADIO AFTER SMELLING THE WIRES BURNING. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE RISK SINCE SERIOUS DAMAGE MAY HAVE OCCURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,275.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MAZDA PROTEGE WITH GOODYEAR AMERICAN EAGLE -H TIRES 205/55/16. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS WIFE WAS DRIVING, SHE NOTICED A RUBBING, THUMPING SOUND. SHE STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED BLISTERS ON THE SIDE OF THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE. SHE INSTALLED THE SPARE AND WHEN SHE REACHED HER DESTINATION, SHE NOTICED 5 TO 6 ADDITIONAL BLISTERS ON THE TIRE. SHE NOTIFIED THE TIRE STORE WHERE SHE PURCHASED THE TIRES FROM AND RECEIVED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT PREVIOUSLY SPOKE WITH THE TIRE STORE ABOUT INSTALLING AN H SPEED RATED TIRE INSTEAD OF A V SPEED RATED TIRE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE V RATED TIRE WOULD BE FINE. THEY ALSO REFUSED TO REPLACE THE TIRES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 131,000.

1. NORMAL USE OF THE VEHICLE. 2. THE LEFT FRONT SEAT INSIDE DOOR HANDLE (DRIVER'S SIDE) BROKE OFF 1/28/09. ONLY WAY OUT IS TO CRAW OVER CENTER CONSOLE AND EXIT PASSENGER SIDE. 3. THE LEFT REAR SEAT INSIDE DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF 8/22/09. CHILD HAD TO EXIT THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE CAR. 4. GOOGLE (NO QUOTES) "PROTEGE BROKE DOOR HANDLE" AND SEE OTHERS WITH THIS DEFECT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MAZDA PROTEGE 5. THE CONTACT SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE COMING FROM HER VEHICLE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE RETAINING BRACKET IN THE FUEL TANK WAS CORRODED. THE CORROSION PUNCTURED HOLES IN THE SENDING UNIT AND CAUSED FUEL LEAKAGE. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. SHE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 62,502 UPDATED 08/04/09. *LJ UPDATED 08/06/09.*JB

I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS CAR FOR MAYBE 2 YEARS AND THE LAST FEW MONTHS IT HAS BEEN MISFIRING ON CYLINDER 3. IT SEEMS THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM BUT CANT SEEM TO FIGURE IT OUT. I HAVE REPLACED EVERYTHING THAT HAD TO DO WITH ELECTRICAL AND NOW I THINK IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE FUEL INJECTORS. ALSO THE SEAT BELT WOULD STAY LOCKED FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES OR SO. *TR

DRIVING CAR IN POURING TROPICAL RAINSTORM AT ABOUT 40MPH IN HEAVY SOUTHBOUND THREE LANE TRAFFIC. WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE RUNNING ON LOW. TURNED WIPERS TO HIGH, THEY RAN FOR ABOUT ONE MINUTE, THEN STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD. HAD TO IMMEDIATELY PULL INTO CENTER LANE U-TURN TURNAROUND AND SIT THERE WITH FLASHERS ON UNTIL RAIN SUBSIDED (THIS IN ITSELF IS DANGEROUS). WIPERS WOULD NOT RUN AT ALL AFTER THAT. THERE WERE 1 ADULT AND 3 CHILDREN IN THE CAR. RETURNED HOME. CHECKED FUSE AND IT WAS OK. VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE WINDSHIELD MOTOR REVEALED THAT THE GROUND WIRE HAD BROKEN OFF AT THE LOOP WHERE IT HELD IN PLACE BY THE WIPER MOTOR MOUNTING BOLT (WITH WASHERS). I SUSPECT THAT THE SHARP EDGES OF THE STEEL WASHERS HAD CUT THE BRASS GROUND WIRE LOOP OVER TIME. I ALSO SUSPECT THAT THIS LOOP HAS BEEN BROKEN FOR SEVERAL YEARS, AND THAT WHEN THE WIPERS ARE TURNED ON HIGH, THAT THE MOTOR VIBRATES IN THE RUBBER MOUNT BUSHING, AND THE BRASS GROUND LOOP SHANK JITTERS OFF OF THE LOOP (WHERE IT IS NORMALLY JUST LYING UPON DUE TO GRAVITY), THUS CAUSING THE MOTOR'S GOUND CIRCUIT TO OPEN, AND THE WIPERS TO FAIL. THE CAR HAS ABOUT 69,000 MILES ON IT. THE IS A 5 CENT PART THAT HAS PUT OUT FAMILY IN HARMS WAY TWICE NOW. IF THIS IS NOT JUST AN ISOLATED INCIDENT ON MY VEHICLE, I PREDICT THAT THERE WILL BE DEATHS AND INJURIES CAUSED WHEN DRIVERS CANNOT SEE WHERE THEY ARE DRIVING. *TR